I didn't want to give anyone the wrong impression about the BDB/B model and the puck sticking issue. Whereas the puck on my original machine stuck about 80-90% of the time, the puck on the BDB/B seems to stick about 5-10% of the time, but only when I have the basket probably a hair too full. When tamping an optimum amount the puck never sticks on this particular BDB/B.

i have an original "/A" model and I almost _never_ get puck sticking. and the _only_ times i did get sticking were when i had the basket not full enough. occasionally when i make a mistake, like forgetting to tare the scale when i weigh my dose into the yogurt cup i use, i'll end up under-dosed and get a "sticker". but never when i dose properly.

I've owned the A model for about 4 months.Is the material in the grouphead that the PF locks into still plastic with a silicone seal? Is there any visible difference that you can tell? I'd like to know if it just feels tighter because it's new, or is there really a design change? The slipping PF is a big problem for me -enough so that I've started looking for a different machine with which to replace the BDB.

FWIW, no problems at all with PF slipping on my A model as long as you follow Phil's advice and make sure the rim of the portafilter basket is dry. I do a heating flush of my portafilter before I dose it, and then I wipe it dry before filling it with coffee, making sure I pay special attention to the rim of the basket where it seals against the silicone group seal. For me, that is enough. And I don't jack it in particularly tight. Just "pleasantly firm" (good scientific term).

Other folks on the Aussie forums have had good luck by lightly burnishing or roughing up the bottoms of the lugs on the portafilter with some sand paper. Note: this is not a big sanding job where you are changing the shape of the lugs. just give them a rougher surface. i have not needed to do this, so i haven't, and so i'm just passing the info along. try that and see if it helps. it's cheaper than buying a gs/3.

it also makes sense that if you did a cleaning job using espresso cleaner detergent, (cafetto, cafiza, what have you), and especially if you did "phil's wiggle" with the soapy water, that you do a very thorough rinse. soap is slippery and if some espresso cleaner soap remains on your group gasket, it could add to your slippery situation.

I'm a long-time lurker and a first-time poster. I purchased my BDB about three months ago after an obsessive amount of research and I'm slowly learning to make espresso that I'm willing to drink.

I don't use the machine every day and because of travel, there was at least a two-week interval where I didn't steam any milk, and that was two weeks ago, at least. So my steam boiler hasn't seen any action in a while. It can't be drained by the end user (right?), so there's no way to refresh the water in there besides the normal consumption via steaming, which is obviously happens really slowly. Do I have to worry about anything growing in there? I'd imagine the normal operating temperature would kill any bacteria, but that still leaves mold or mildew.

I'm a long-time lurker and a first-time poster. I purchased my BDB about three months ago after an obsessive amount of research and I'm slowly learning to make espresso that I'm willing to drink.

I don't use the machine every day and because of travel, there was at least a two-week interval where I didn't steam any milk, and that was two weeks ago, at least. So my steam boiler hasn't seen any action in a while. It can't be drained by the end user (right?), so there's no way to refresh the water in there besides the normal consumption via steaming, which is obviously happens really slowly. Do I have to worry about anything growing in there? I'd imagine the normal operating temperature would kill any bacteria, but that still leaves mold or mildew.

I wouldn't worry about it. Pressurized steam is an effective critter killer, and the inside of that boiler is almost certainly sterile. Just purge the steam a few times to clear any beasties lurking in the frothing arm.

Thanks for the great pics BubbaDude.I'm going to compare them to my A model when I get home.

My first post was today, but I've been a long time lurker, and I read this entire thread ( plus many others on several forums ) before buying the BDB. I hope the slipping portafilter problem has been addressed by the B model. The BDB has many great features & is capable of pulling excellent shots. I really want to love it, but the PF ejection is just not a problem I can live with.

Breville has provided outstanding customer service so far, and has offered to send a replacement machine. Does anyone know if all the replacement units that are now being sent out are the B models?

I have a BDB and have been very happy with it. I recently had to get an espresso machine for my "office" (2 people) and decided to go with a CC1 over the BDB because my budget for the office wasn't enough to cover the BDB. I had a budget of about $1,000 for everything, including the grinder. I thought i would share some of my findings on how the CC1 compares to the BDB. (I paired it with a Baratza Vario grinder)

- Milk steaming is a lot slower (not surprising). Also, it "shrieks" much, much louder than the BDB steamer. I am not sure why this happens.- It takes an annoying amount of time to heat up for the shot after milk steaming. The BDB has spoiled me here.- I like the smaller form factor compare to the BDB- Menu system is good for customization - can change pre-infusion time, dwell time, but not pre-infusion pressure. I believe pre-infusion pressure is full pressure, so if you set it to long, the shot will just start- Unlike the BDB, you can change the 'P', 'I' and 'D' parameters. I can't imagine *anyone* doing this. I'm a EE and even I wouldn't mess with it.- You can program the time for a single shot, or you can effectively make it manual by setting a long time and just pushing the button to stop it- Filling the tank is a total PIA. Bad ergonomics here. Again, the BDB has spoiled me- Unlike the BDB, you can actually descale this machine yourself :-)- The PID seems to work fine. Unlike the BDB, I think the temp display is the actual temp, not the target temp. - Fit and finish seem comparable to the BDB

I can't really compare the shots because I am using some beans that I don't really like. I think it will make comparable shots, though.

Overall, I think it is a good machine that is a great deal for the price - about 1/2 the price of the BDB. If you can afford the BDB, I would definitely go with that, but the CC1 is a good compromise for a lower budget.

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